No Ordinary Man: George Mercer DawsonGeorge Mercer Dawson was indeed no ordinary man. Born in 1849, son of the first Principal of McGill University, Dawson defied health circumstances that would have defeated many people and went on to become one of our most exceptional Canadians. As a geologist in the British North American Boundary Commission between Canada and the U.S.A. and as Director of the Geological Survey of Canada in 1895, Dawson examined and explored every aspect of Canada's unknown territories. This collection of writings, letters, diaries and essays begins with the young George and moves through his developing years to his adult life. "He climbed, walked and rode on horseback over more of Canada than any other member of the Geological Survey of Canada at that time -- yet to look at him, one would not think him capable of a day's hard physical labour .... It was his hand that first traced upon vacant maps the geological formations of the Yukon and much of British Columbia." "To read about him is like taking a drink of water from a cool, unpolluted spring. His sense of values was so great that he once said he didn't care much for money or possessions. All he wanted was what he could hold in his canoe." |
From inside the book
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... hand printing press on which he printed money or tokens which he gave to his brothers for chores and errands . George absorbed knowledge readily which was carefully stored away in his orderly mind for further use . He owed much to his ...
... hand , Spread the broad , silent , tree - clad land ; And in the distance far and blue Long swelling mountains close the view . " Subsequently , George decided to attend the prestigious Royal School of Mines in London , England , in ...
... hand , seized a club , and killed his brother . AH ! he did not at first mean to do this ; no , but nei- ther did he check the Rage ( or fire ) of anger , so that it became his mas- ter and destroyed him ; for God set a mark upon Cain ...
... hand of God fell on them and destroyed them both . How like a fire was this ; as rapid in its progress , as fearfull in its consequences ? ( More of this next week meantime I send my love to you all James Dawson to George Dawson ...
... hand , to write a hasty sharp scrawl in place , you will never recover what you have lost - The wise saying of ... hands than in the Thoughts of our hearts . - I am most happy to hear that Papa approves of your progress in Drawing - you ...
Contents
Life and Exploration on the Western Frontier | 122 |
Dawson and the Yukon | 143 |
Ethnological Endeavours | 148 |
Glimpses at Georges Personal Life | 152 |
An Enduring Friend | 155 |
A Loyal Son and Sibling | 169 |
The Bering Sea Commission | 175 |
A WideRanging Mind | 182 |
43 | |
A Voyage by Sail to Great Britain | 49 |
First Year at the Royal School of Mines London 186970 | 57 |
Summer 1870 with Parents in Scotland | 69 |
Second Year at the Royal School of Mines 187071 | 71 |
A Summer of Field Work in the English Lake District | 79 |
Third Year at the Royal School of Mines 187172 | 84 |
GeologistNaturalist on the British North American Boundary Commission | 101 |
Enduring Achievements with the Geological Survey of Canada | 119 |
Selected Poems of George Mercer Dawson | 185 |
Science and Exploration in Canada | 194 |
The Lasting Legacy of George Mercer Dawson | 197 |
For Further Reading | 200 |
About the Author | 201 |
About the Editor | 202 |
Visual Credits | 203 |
Index | 204 |